TOKYO, Apr 27 (NNN-BSS) — Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh and Japan have successfully elevated the bilateral relations to a “Strategic Partnership” from the existing “Comprehensive Partnership”.
“Prime Minister Kishida and I have discussed the entire gamut of our bilateral relations. We are happy that Bangladesh and Japan have successfully elevated the bilateral relations to a “Strategic Partnership” from the existing “Comprehensive Partnership”, she said.
The Prime Minister made the remarks in a joint statement after the exchanging of several instruments signed between the two sides following bilateral talks with her Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida at the Prime Minister’s Office here.
Dhaka and Tokyo signed eight instruments on the second day of Sheikh Hasina’s four-day state visit to Japan at the invitation of her Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida.
Those were signed on agriculture, metro rail, industrial upgrade, ship recycling, customs matters, intellectual properties, defence cooperation, ICT and cyber security cooperation by the concerned persons of the two friendly countries.
The instruments were later exchanged between Bangladesh and Japan in presence the premiers of both the countries at the Prime Minister’s Office here.
Sheikh Hasina added: “Today, Prime Minister Kishida and I concluded the Joint Statement on “Strategic Partnership”. I am confident that the excellent understanding, friendship and cooperation that exist between our two peoples and our governments would grow even stronger in the years ahead.”
“Our two sides have signed – agreements and memorandums which will further institutionalize our future cooperation in the areas of agriculture, customs matters, defense, ICT and cyber-security, industrial upgrading, intellectual property, ship recycling and metro rail,” she said.
During the bilateral talks, the two sides discussed about Rohingya issue alongside MIDI ((Moheshkhali-Matarbari Integrated Infrastructure Development Initiative) and BIG-B initiative (The Bay of Bengal Industrial Growth Belt) and Economic Partnership.
Sheikh Hasina said they have discussed about Rohingya crisis as the overdue presence of the Rohingyas has seriously been affecting the lives and livelihoods of the local communities in Bangladesh.
“We requested Japan to help finding a durable solution to the crisis by using its channel of communication with Myanmar,” she said.
The Prime Minister said Dhaka and Narita are going to start direct flight this year.
“We are happy to announce that the Dhaka-Narita direct flight is going to operate within this year,” she said.
The Prime Minister said they have also discussed about the MIDI and BIG-B Initiative for development of Southern Bangladesh for connecting the Bay of Bengal and the neighbouring regions.
“We thank the Government of Japan for being our one of the largest development partners. We are looking forward to conclude an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) in the days ahead,” she said.
“I am particularly delighted to be able to undertake my official visit to Tokyo after we have completed the 50th anniversary of establishment of our diplomatic relations,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina is visiting Japan after three years since she last visited the country in 2019, before the Covid-19 pandemic broke out.
Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday met Emperor of Japan Naruhito here on the second day of her visit to Japan.
“The Premier attended an audience with the emperor at the Imperial Palace at 3:00pm local time,” PM’s Deputy Press Secretary KM Shakhawat Hossain told BSS. — NNN-BSS
